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Phase 2 N=27 Randomized Double-blind Treatment

Effects of Cannabidiol in Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder

Enrolled (actual)
27
Serious AEs
3.9%
Results posted
May 2023
Primary outcome: Primary: Trough CBD Plasma Levels — 0; 0.7 CBD (ng/mL)

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Interventions
Placebo (Other); Phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) (Drug)
Age
Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
NYU Langone Health
Primary completion
Mar 2022

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Trough CBD Plasma Levels
0; 22.71
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
PRIMARY
Peak CBD Plasma Levels
0; 275.012
SECONDARY
Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days
58.6; 46.67
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Percent of Heavy Drinking Days
24.29; 15.87
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Number of Drinks Per Day
3.17; 2.40
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) Score
8.22; 11.33
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Score
1.89; 6.125
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
3.90; 6.5

Summary

The goal of the proposed project is to begin rigorous study of the clinically relevant effects of non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) in patients with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). This double-blind, randomized proof-of-concept study (n = 40) is designed to assess feasibility and contrast effects of extended (8 weeks) treatment with CBD to those of placebo in AUD patients. Participants with AUD will be randomized to receive either placebo or 600mg CBD/day (PO) for 4 weeks, immediately followed by 1200mg CBD/day (PO) for an additional 4 weeks (8 total weeks). These doses were chosen to reproduce serum CBD levels reported to reduce alcohol-seeking behavior in animal studies. Measures will include circulating levels of CBD, safety measures (THC serum levels, adverse events, cognitive and motoric function), and physiological and psychological domains relevant to AUD (including self-reported craving, depression, and anxiety, and responses to personalized scripts designed to elicit stress- and cue-induced craving and anxiety). Assessments will be conducted following 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks of treatment with each dose of CBD vs. placebo, and 1 and 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. Drinking outcomes across 8 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up will also be assessed as an exploratory outcome.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Males and females age 18-65
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate or severe AUD
  • Able to provide voluntary informed consent
  • At least 8 heavy drinking days (4 or more drinks for a woman, 5 or more drinks for a man) in the 30 days prior to screen
  • If of childbearing potential (male or female), are willing to use approved form of contraception from screening for duration of the trial
  • Able to provide at least two locators
  • Endorse desire to cut down or stop drinking
  • Agrees to abstain from all other cannabinoid use for duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria

  • Current alcohol withdrawal (CIWA-Ar score >7)
  • Exclusionary medical conditions (e.g. current severe alcohol withdrawal requiring medical hospitalization, significantly impaired liver function)
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder
  • High risk of adverse emotional or behavioral reaction based on investigator's clinical evaluation (e.g., evidence of serious personality disorder, antisocial behavior, serious current stressors, lack of meaningful social support)
  • Current significant suicidality (assessed using the C-SSRS), any suicidal behavior in the past 12 months, or any history of serious suicide attempts requiring hospitalization, or current significant homicidality
  • History of severe Traumatic Brain Injury (LOC > 24 hours)
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of current mild cannabis use disorder and/or moderate or severe substance use disorder for a substance other than alcohol or nicotine
  • Significant laboratory abnormalities, including significantly impaired liver function, serious abnormalities of complete blood count or metabolic panel
  • Active legal problems likely to result in incarceration within 12 weeks of treatment initiation
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Current use of exclusionary medications, including cannabinoids; treatments for addictions including alcohol; moderate to strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 or CYP2C19; medications metabolized primarily by CYP3A4, CYP3A5, or CYP3A7; and medications with a narrow therapeutic index which are substrates of UGT1A9, UGT2B7, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, or CYP2B6.
  • Allergy to any ingredient of the study compound.
  • Current treatment for AUD, with exception of AA/12-step treatment
  • No inpatient psychiatric treatment in the last 12 months, with the exception of detox and extended Emergency Department stays
  • A positive urine drug screen for THC, cocaine and/or opioids at screen
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03252756). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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